The Department of Fisheries says a European ban on seal meat and pelts may signal a wider trend on discriminatory trade practices at Canada’s expense. A senior official called the ban a worrisome precedent: “It’s not just about seals at this point”.
Canada Revenue Agency has won a court fight with GM amid a complaint of “dirty pool” over decades-old tax benefits for managers who drive company cars. The automaker vowed to fight on: “General Motors is not going to give up.”
Telecom regulators are guarding details of a federal probe of roaming charges. The CRTC said it would not disclose which service providers are targeted following complaints of inflated fees: ‘I went to the U.S. and now have a bill for $4000’.
Lengthy delays in federal approval of generic farm pesticides are causing unnecessary expenses, says a growers’ group. Saskatoon-based Farmers of North America blamed a Health Canada agency for taking up to two years to license chemicals that take six months to approve in the U.S.: “It makes no sense.”
Anti-trust investigators citing secret sources have widened a probe of Google Canada Corp. over alleged unfair trade practices. The Competition Bureau questions whether Google uses biased search results that reward advertisers and punish competitors: “Do a Google search for virtually any name and tell me if Wikipedia is at the top of the page.”
The Senate amid cries of “dictatorship” has redefined workplace safety and restricted employees’ right to strike. The amendments inserted in a 309-page omnibus budget bill were signed into law last night as parliamentarians headed home for the holidays: “It’s not productive, it’s not going to work; and it’s probably going to cost them”.
Budget cutbacks have swept Canada’s war on drugs with the Department of National Defence slashing its contribution to a yearly marijuana roundup. The military cut funding 75 percent for an anti-pot campaign conducted jointly with the RCMP: “There is evidence this is not working.”
An oil lobby co-founded by an Alberta senator is accused of ghostwriting amendments to the National Energy Board Act. Cabinet had no comment on claims the wording of new rules limiting license hearings was lifted from an industry submission to Natural Resources Canada: “Nobody else gets action this fast.”
Killing home mail delivery will have “huge repercussions” for Canada Post, the Senate has been told. Authorities attempted to defend a proposal to end home delivery for five million urban householders beginning in 2014: “The important thing for Canadians is that we continue to have a postal service.”
Winemakers are appealing for more subsidies to withstand the impact of a free trade pact with Europe. Vintners told a Commons committee they are at a disadvantage even with the repeal of 45¢ per litre E.U. tariffs on Canadian wine exports: “They are superpowers in wine”.
Proposed changes to a Canada-wide building code by the National Research Council are raising the ire of critics amid claims of fire hazards. Amendments would raise the height limit on wooden structures from four storeys to six, a measure that already meets code in British Columbia: “It hasn’t been analyzed enough.”
Canada Post faces public fury over surprise plans to increase rates 35 percent and kill home delivery for more than 5 million Canadians.
The Crown agency with a mail monopoly reported a pre-tax profit of $127 million last year.
Business, labour and seniors groups expressed anger over the scheme, disclosed 12 hours after the Commons broke for its Christmas recess: “It’s pretty dramatic.”
The Department of Agriculture is giving itself new powers to amend regulations without public notice or parliamentary scrutiny. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz’s office would not comment on terms of a new omnibus farm bill: “There has to be care given to that.”
MPs have quietly concluded a probe of the wealth gap with a report that reaffirms existing federal policies. The Commons finance committee proposed no new initiatives following a year-long study of income inequality: “Life isn’t fair.”
The Senate is to study fish farming amid industry complaints a “patchwork” of regulations is hurting the trade. Senators voted to conduct a national probe of aquaculture involving species now regulated by the Fisheries Act: “It is a farming industry; we’re not fishing.”
